Track-gage



(No Model.)

S. W. BRANSPORD. TRACK GAGE.

No. 458,012. Patented Aug. 18,1891.

' Inventor I 2 mumm in: mm PETERS cc., mainump Wmxmmm, o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL IV. BRANSFORD,

OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA.

TRACK-GAG E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 458,012, dated August 18, 1891.

Application filed June 10, 1890. Renewed July 8, 1891- Serial No.398,77'7- (N model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, SAMUEL W. BRANSFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Opelika, in the county of Lee and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Track Gage, Level, and Curve-Adjuster; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to providea simple andinexpensive track-gage that when used as such shall show the relative elevation of the two rails, to the end that the two rails may be accurately placed upon the same level, or that either may be raised a known distance above the horizontal plane of the other in passing around curves or in other situationswhere such raising may be desirable.

The invention is fully shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of the gage placed "upon rails in the same horizontal plane. Fig. 2 is a like view, one rail being raised abovethe horizontal plane of the other. Fig. 3 is a section on the line at at, Fig. 1.

In the drawings, A is a track-gage bar resting upon rails B B. Ateach end the lower part of the bar is cut away, forming shoulders C C at a distance from each other exactly equal to the gage of the particular road, whether standard or otherwise. From the middle of' the bar rises a suitably-braced frame D, upon which is pivoted a needle-index E, having at its lower end a weight E, that serves to keep the index always vertical when-at rest. \Vhen at rest, the point of the 40 index marks the middle or zero point of a scale F, fixed to the frame alongside the arc passed over by said point as the ends of the .bar A are raised in succession, and each division upon the scale marks the distance passed over by the point when one end of the bar is raised or depressed one inch.

Fig. 2 shows the apparatus in use, the two rails having been brought precisely to gage and one of them being just two inches above the horizontal plane of the other, as shown by the indexpointing to one of the figures 2 upon the scale.

For convenience the frame has at the top a handle G,witl1 reference to which the whole device is symmetrical. Consequently when lifted by the handle the whole balances, and it may therefore be readily and quickly moved from point to point. The bar and frame are preferably of wood, the braces, index, and scale of metal; but this is not essential, nor is it necessary that the exact construction shown he followed.

What I claim is- As a new article of manufacture,a trackgage consisting of a straight bar having its ends diminished upon the lower side to form two shoulders, a central frame fixed to the middle of the bar and bearing a vertical graduated arc, and a handle at the top of the frame in the line of gravity of the whole apparatus, and a weighted needle pivoted upon the frame in position to swing over the are when the relative height of the ends'of the bar is varied.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL IV. BRANSFORD. lVitnesses:

AUGUSTUS BARNES, N, P. RENFRO. 

